Share with others:

"If it seems too good to be true, it probably is," said Pittsburgh Zone 1 Cmdr. RaShall Brackney.

Though parking scams on the North Side are infrequent, they do happen, police say. Several parking scams were dismantled last year, she said, though thefts from vehicles during sporting events are more common.

She recommended that visitors use designated Steelers and Pirates lots. If an attendant waves drivers into a private lot, causing concern, Cmdr. Brackney said to see whether they're providing a parking stub or receipt, or to ask for identification from their parking company. If a lot has a towing company listed on posted signs, she also recommended calling the company to verify the lot's use.

Cmdr. Brackney urges anyone who believes they were illegally parked in a scam to contact police.